Distributed Agile -- The Dark Ages or Enlightenment?

Agile works best when the entire team is sitting together in the same office. Or does it?

The reality of today's working world is that more and more teams have people working remotely. As agile practitioners, we must "inspect and adapt" to this new world. What strategies should we use to make agile work better in a distributed world? How important is picking the right tools vs. setting a positive culture? What practices should team leaders and Scrum Masters of distributed teams implement to make distributed life easier and more effective?

presented by David Horowitz

David is a co-founder and CEO of Retrium. Retrium makes distributed retrospectives easy and effective through the use of a real-time facilitated web app that enables private ideation, dot voting, prioritized discussion, and the creation of action plans. In a prior life, David was a software developer for The World Bank for 9 years.

Outline/structure of the Session

I will need 45 minutes for this talk. The first ~30 minutes will be spent going through the talk, with an emphasis on the importance of culture over tools and "best practices". I will reserve 15 minutes at the end of the talk to do a live collaborative "Start Stop Continue" retrospective, focusing on attendees' real teams. Based on the talk, what do attendees want to start, stop, and continue doing back at their real jobs? At the end of the retrospective, we will collaboratively come up with a list of action items on what we can practically do to make distributed agile work better.

Learning Outcome

Attendees should come away with the following main learning outcomes:

A clear understanding of why culture is so important for distributed teams

New ideas about how to run effective distributed retrospectives as well as why retrospectives are even more important for distributed teams

Action items, derived from the ideas of the group, that participants can take "home" with them and implement to make their teams more effective

Richard Cheng - Situational Retrospectives – One size does not fit all

schedule 2 years ago

45 Mins

Workshop

Intermediate

Situation A: Your team is great. You’ve met all your sprint goals and your Product Owner is pleased with the results to date. Yeah!

Situation B: Your team sucked. Zero story points completed last sprint. Team members are complaining and blaming each other for the failures.

These two situations demand two very different retrospectives. The right retrospective can make a good team great and turn a bad situation into a learning opportunity. A bad retrospective can set a team back and create a non-safe working environment.

In this session, attendees will explorer retrospectives techniques and examine the pros and cons of the techniques. The workshop will then explore scenarios and examine how to effectively run retrospectives across a variety of scenarios.

Coming out of this sessions, attendees will have an understanding of applying the right retrospectives based on the state and needs of the team and projects.

Raj Indugula / John Hughes - Dare to Explore: Discover ET!

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Talk

Beginner

Ever solve a jigsaw puzzle? Do you typically design and document all your pieces before assembling the puzzle or know anything about the kind of picture formed by the puzzle? Hardly. Usually, the specifics of the puzzle, as they emerge through the process of solving that puzzle, affect our tactics for solving it.

This analogy is at the heart of Exploratory Testing (ET) - a fun, focused and powerful approach to testing that has been gaining in popularity in recent years. While not a new idea, it is often misconstrued as being a random, flailing at the keyboard approach to uncovering problems. Not quite. ET is a disciplined practice that involves simultaneously learning about the software under test while designing and executing tests, using feedback from the last test to design the next. It leverages traditional test design analysis techniques and heuristics, but design and execution become a single inseparable activity. Within the agile context, there is a need for agile teams to augment their scripted automated tests with a manual testing practice that is adaptable, and ET provides the right fit.

In this session oriented towards beginning explorers, we will gain a deeper understanding of what ET is, what it isn't, and discuss the essential elements of the practice with practical tips and techniques for: learning the system under test and capturing our understanding to design tests; designing tests on the fly using heuristics; executing tests and observing results; and finally, integrating ET into the cadence of an agile process.

Marsha Acker - Diagnosing and Changing Stuck Patterns in Teams

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

120 Mins

Workshop

Advanced

Do you want to be able to “trust the wisdom of the group” but find it difficult? Do you ever feel like you’re having the same conversation over and over again with no real progress? Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a disagreement and not sure how to move forward?

If any of these issues are standing in the way of your work with groups and teams ‐ ‘how’ you are having (or not having) the conversation is likely contributing to your challenges. Research consistently demonstrates that team effectiveness is highly dependent upon the quality of the communication between team members. Yet it’s easy to get into the flow of daily work and be really focused on the ‘what’ in our conversations without much attention to the quality of ‘how’ we’re communicating.

As an agile coach one of the most important ways you can serve your team is to help them unlock the wisdom that exists within the team itself and have the conversations they need to have. We’ll explore a framework for learning to ‘read the room’ using four elements for all face-to-face communication. We’ll do some live practice to apply the framework to a conversation and then identify some typical patterns of “stuck” communications that can lead to “breakdowns” in teams.

This will be an interactive session with people actively engaged in both large group and small group discussions.

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Others

Intermediate

What do the commercial world and Federal government share in common? Agile success! Yes, it is true that agile grew from the commercial world and has been a shining story of success there, but the Federal government has been adopting agile’s brilliant ways more recently and has success stories of its own to share.

In getting to the point of successful agile delivery, especially at the organizational level, the Federal government has had to clear many hurdles and transform the way it works. This hasn’t been an easy task and is still in its infancy. The commercial world has cleared its share as well and has many war stories along with their success stories.

This session will be delivered as a moderated panel discussion. Two panelists from progressive Federal programs join two shining examples of agility from the commercial space – and entertaining fellows to boot. Panelists will discuss topics that provide insight into their organizations and the work they did to implement agile successfully on their teams, across their programs, and throughout their organizations.

Alastair Thomson is the Chief Information Officer for NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joshua Seckel is the Applied Technology Division Chief at the USCIS Office of Information Technology

Nate McMahon is a Vice President of People and Technology at The Motley Fool

Bob Payne is the Vice President of Enterprise Agile Consulting at LitheSpeed

Ever wonder if a major Federal program has been able to achieve Continuous Delivery or implement a Zero Defects strategy? How have the commercial companies been able to increase their output so well while decreasing risk at the same time? What can Federal organizations learn from the commercial world about agile contracting and procurements? How did commercial companies have to change to enable self-forming teams and could our Federal government, with its myriad contractors and its layers of separation, benefit from the same? What can the commercial world learn from Federal agile success? Do successful agile approaches differ between products and services? What do the Feds see as their next agile conquest on the horizon? What is hot for commercial companies to tackle now?

You will leave this session understanding some of what the commercial world has done to achieve great success with agile. You will also hear about agile success in the Federal government, bureaucracy busting moves, and what the government had to do in order to achieve those feats. Both sides will share their stories, describing the impediments they faced, the benefits they have seen, and even the areas they have not been able to conquer just yet, attempting to drive agile throughout their organizations and into every aspect of their delivery. Panelists will also discuss topics and answer questions the session participants have for them to ensure everyone has an opportunity to take back valuable and pertinent knowledge afforded by these experienced agilists.

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Talk

Intermediate

Abstract:

This presentation was initial created for an executive leadership team being pressure into the practices of Agile. The Organization soon found their to be a huge gap in the understanding of organizational agility, of not only agile, but the conceptual models needed to drive speed, innovation, and creativity. This session will provide a view into an integral view to change. In 45 minutes I will not be able to cover all of the details in every model, however I plan to present these models in such a way that they the audience will understand what resources are at their disposal to leverage when needed and expand their perspective.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Beginner

The Zombie Retrospective - presented by Tommie Adams

So they say the retrospective is one of the strongest and most powerful tools in the agile scrum methodology tool kit, and is often overlooked or skipped. So how does a scrum master find ways to creatively explain and express the importance of this agile scrum ceremony, or even the basics of agile scrum in general. How does the scrum master explain the importance of banding together as a team in this brave new agile scrum world. In many organizations, nowadays, the teams are even made up of outside vendors as well as in house associates. So how do you even start to pique the interest and the importance of team collaboration to a bunch of folks who are strangers to one another on a agile scrum team? Even more specifically, how do you explain how the retrospective ceremony will help improve the way they work with one another over time?

Tommie works for Marriott International in Bethesda MD. His background is in theater and communication which he studied at Grinnell College in Iowa. He has worked for Marriott International for 26 years with jobs ranging from reservation sales associate, to group sales manager, to functional IT tester to his current position as scrum master for the Marriott Rewards Agile Scrum Team. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, his hobbies include photography, cello and learning the ukulele, (you know, in case you were curious.)

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Workshop

Intermediate

Delivery teams know from experience the importance of maintenance such as applying patches, upgrading, and conforming to the latest security and accessibility regulations. Product Owners, other value team members, and system stakeholders are focused on functionality and end user satisfaction. Maintenance isn’t sexy and can sink in priority until it fails to be included in releases.

The Security community has been using Dark/Abuser/Evil Stories using the persona of a Black Hat Hacker to uncover vulnerabilities. In this workshop participants will assume the role of Delivery Team members and use the power of personas to write “Dark Stories” that bring to life the full impact of failing to perform necessary maintenance. The intent is to give Product Owners a complete understanding of the importance of maintenance so they can appropriately prioritize maintenance and keep their systems strong.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Intermediate

Teal is a natural extension of the Agile mindset, but who would have thought flattening the hierarchy could be this difficult! If Agile removes impediments and empowers teams to deliver more frequently and more valuable offerings, teal removes organizational impediments (hierarchy built on lack of trust ) and fosters empowerment by localizing decision making, re-centering activities around an evolutionary purpose, and aligning the personal with the organizational (wholeness). But what actually happens when you put rubber to road and empower teams to recruit, hire, fire, and determine each other’s bonuses? Well, things get a little messy. If you’re patient, set aside short-term outcomes, and look to long-term gain, it can prove deeply rewarding. I’ll take you on our own evolutionary journey from green to teal and share with you lessons learned along the way.

If you’re curious about alternative management styles or interested in the next extension of Agile, then come sit, chat, and reflect.

Dave Nicolette - Shit Agile Coaches Say

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Intermediate

"Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes." - Desmond Tutu

The agile community has evolved into a group of highly enthusiastic proponents who bring a high level of excitement to everything they say and do. Agilists speak a strange sort of insider jargon in which plain English words have very unusual, and often counterintuitive meanings.

They may describe your multi-billion-dollar enterprise as "dysfunctional" and on the verge of "failure." They may suggest your teams "sprint" to get work done, and yet do so at a "sustainable pace." They may tell your management that agile helps teams "go faster" while assuring your teams that agile isn't about "going faster." They may insist that agile is more about culture and mindset than about practices, and then measure your progress in terms of how faithfully you follow a prescribed set of practices.

There are many more examples of this odd insider jargon, starting with the seminal buzzword itself, "agile." Over the years, the way agilists speak has confused and turned off many who might otherwise have benefited from applying agile values and principles. The presenter will share several stories of the unintended effects of agile-speak, and will invite you to share your own tales of woe and amusement.

Richard Cheng - Let's all agree to agree - The importance of a Team Charter

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Workshop

Intermediate

We've all see Project Charters. Project Charters usually state the vision, mission, roadmaps, and is hand top down to the teams. However, how many of us have Team Charters in place. Team Charters are one of the most powerful tools a team has when it comes to being able to work effectively together.

This workshop explores the dynamics of creating a team charter, the definition of ready, and the definition of done and how all this works together to create software that is ready for review, to potentially shippable, to released into production.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Workshop

Intermediate

Sprint Planning is a frequent, important part of the rhythm of many agile teams. And yet, we find that many coaches and Scrum Masters struggle to make the meeting relevant, valuable, and creative. We will work through a simple, relatable simulation that we use to teach effective planning to teams and facilitators that brings energy, creativity, and problem-solving to the Sprint Planning experience.

Luke Lackrone - #awkward - Coaching a New Team

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Talk

Beginner

When we have our most successful coaching moments, they often come from a deep groove: where we seem to anticipate the team's needs; know when the breakthroughs are coming; know how to dance between mentoring the team and letting them innovate (or struggle) on their own. But, it rarely starts that way. Coaching new teams can be awkward -- and especially so if you're new to coaching. I will show you some ways of approaching these coaching engagements that can break down the awkwardness, reveal things about the team, and get on a track of improvement and discovery.

I will share some attitudes I think can benefit coaches who find these situations awkward, as well as practical tools and tips you can exercise tomorrow to get teams talking and making progress. We will also engage as small groups, for further practice on these tools and to create space for coaching one-another.

Brian Sjoberg - Moving at the Speed of Molasses ... This Might Have Something to do with It!

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Demonstration

Beginner

Are you struggling with delivering a potentially releasable working product every iteration? Ever wonder what one of biggest reasons we have difficulty getting things done at the individual, team and organizational level are? Do you keep doing something even though you know it reduces your productivity and lowers quality? We are going to run an exercise that highlights one of the major culprits that you have all experienced and continue to experience. The exercise will likely ignite a fire that will help you, your team and your organization to become more productive and improve product quality. We will discuss ways to improve this at the individual, team and organization levels.

Knowing this will help anyone to understand the consequences of not prioritizing and increase their desire to. This will lead to producing faster, higher quality products that should lead to delighted customers.

Jim Damato - Agile Metrics Case Studies - Let's Play Agile Coach

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Case Study

Intermediate

Learn how to judge the health of your Agile teams by doing a health check with real customer case study data. We'll look at data on team performance based on various Agile metrics such as Burnups/Burndowns, Cumulative Flow Diagrams, Velocity Chart, SDPI charts, and more. This will help to interpret possible challenges the team is facing and determine prescriptive action items that will influence improvement.

This will be an interactive session, where we’ll examine how to mine for internal performance data, evaluate what we can deduce from actions happening outside the boundaries of agile practices and pinpoint areas that will have the most impact on future projects to get them back on track. The goal is to turn work into data, data into insights and insight into action.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Intermediate

Are you ready to take control of your career in Agile space? Then this session is for you! Learn to build your personal brand, establish your career goals and reach them using an Agile mindset. The session is equally relevant for beginning and experienced Agilists, for people in the midst of an active job hunt and these who have already secured their dream position but are not sure how to take their career to the next level.

Learn how to job hunt like a pro and how to attract recruiters and hiring managers instead of relying on job applications; how to seek and secure a promotion; how to insure your Agile career; and how to network in a powerful and focused way.

Find out how to leverage the power of social media in your brand building efforts, including the ultimate brand building and career management tool, LinkedIn: develop and maintain a strong LinkedIn profile that includes an Agile work portfolio, a powerful Summary, and a results oriented Experience section; develop an ongoing engagement with Agile LinkedIn community using status updates, LinkedIn publishing platform and Agile groups and grow and nurture your network. Bonus: you will learn about making the first steps towards thought leadership.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Beginner

According to the VersionOne State of Agile survey, the most widely practiced agile technique is still the daily standup (80%). Everyone knows its a critical part of agile and we all can recite the three questions by heart. But why do many agile teams say their standup just isn't working? Even though the stand up can be done very easily on an agile project (setup a 15 minute meeting every day and your done!), it takes some work to get the true value out of it. Everyone has probably been in that stand up where the energy level is very low and there just seems to be a group of people going through the motions. Or maybe there is dissention among the team and nobody wants to go anymore. In this workshop, we’ll discuss why stand ups are a critical practice for agile teams and how you, as an agile coach or Scrum Master, can support your teams in pursuing a useful, valuable stand-up and get out of the standup blues.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Beginner

Retrospectives are often one of the first team ceremonies to get dumped for time, or to fall flat as we repeat the same boring patterns. Yet, many voices tell us they are the single most important practice our teams could be doing!

We agree, and we will show you how to put some zip back into your retrospectives. Learn how to use a retrospective as the first-engagement with a new team; how to use the form to begin building trust and understanding in the team; and get your colleagues on the path to continuous self-improvement!

This session will take you beyond the Plus-Minus-Delta, By-The-Book format for a retrospective, explore the Derby-Larsen framework through activity demonstrations, and provide an opportunity for attendees to put this new knowledge into practice as they design a deeper, groovier retrospective to take back to their teams.

schedule 2 years ago

Sold Out!

45 Mins

Talk

Beginner

Yoda said: “Ready are you? What know you of ready?”

Yoda also said: “You must unlearn what you have learned. “

Product Owners want everything – NOW! As process ninjas, coaches, and general Agilists, we help product owners appreciate the value of prioritizing. With Agile, the PO will iteratively and incrementally get a great product. Sometimes, we Agilists want our teams to have ALL the best practices – NOW! Maybe we could work iteratively and incrementally get a great team – but how to prioritize?

In this talk we will discuss (A) the problem in terms of the Satir Change Process Model; (B) the Shu Ha Ri method of prioritizing change; (C) Mike Cottemeyer’s “Three Things” to prioritize change; and (D) a mini-workshop in which we take a look at several teams and what might be the “process” for them to achieve good process! Also, we may have accidental fun.

Fadi Stephan - User Story Smells and Anti-patterns

schedule 2 years ago

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45 Mins

Talk

Intermediate

Agilists employ user stories as a way to capture user requirements and drive the planning process for iterative and incremental delivery of software. Traditionalists with experience in “big requirements up front” often struggle with the brevity of user stories and how to best communicate requirements. In this presentation, we will look at common anti-patterns and mistakes that teams unknowingly employ when writing user stories. Come learn how to identify and avoid these mistakes. Understand what size is the right size for a user story and how to properly split a user story. Discover different boundaries for prioritizing stories. Learn how to decompose a story until it is ready for development. Leave with new insights on how to write effective user stories.